Envirotec Magazine

MAY 30, 2024

Understanding why climate change might contribute to increasing plastic pollution is the focus of a new research project starting this month at the University of Portsmouth. Until now, studies have concentrated solely on microplastics shedding from brand-new plastics.

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Grist

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

scientists sounded the alarm on a then-underappreciated problem: the breakdown of plastic litter into small, even microscopic, fragments. While many previous reports had documented the buildup of plastic bottles and bags in the natural environment, much less attention had been paid to what the scientists dubbed “microplastics.”

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Microplastics Plastics Pollution Health 127

Envirotec Magazine

MARCH 28, 2024

A research group in Japan has demonstrated that airborne microplastics adsorb to the epicuticular wax on the surface of forest canopy leaves, and that forests may act as terrestrial sinks for airborne microplastics The study used a new technique to measure the levels of microplastics adhering to the leaves.

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Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 17, 2022

The UK’s next prime minister should ban manufacturers from intentionally adding microplastics to consumer or professional use products, according to a new environmental campaign from the drainage experts at Lanes Group plc. Microplastic particles measure less than 5mm and are incorporated into a wide variety of consumer products.

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Envirotec Magazine

AUGUST 3, 2023

Surface cracks and biofilms on plastic particles might help spread pollution Concerns about microplastic pollution arise not only because of the particles themselves, but also from whatever cargo they might be carrying. Surface features such as holes and biofilms also increase this propensity to collect pollutants.

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Envirotec Magazine

APRIL 14, 2023

By Ria Devereux , PhD Student, Microplastic Pollution, University of East London, writing in The Conversation. At a first glance the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have a positive impact on the environment, with significant decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, and transport-related noise, air and light pollution.

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Microplastics Plastics Pollution Waste 239

Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 5, 2022

Bristol based microplastic technology company Matter is launching Gulp, “the first sustainable, long-lasting washing machine microfibre filter” on Kickstarter from 11 October. and recycling of microplastics, and says it is focused on “cradle-to-cradle solutions”, with a mission to stop microplastic pollution at source.

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Envirotec Magazine

JUNE 13, 2022

Plastic pollution in the ocean may serve as a source for novel antibiotics, according to a new student-led study conducted in collaboration with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The researchers isolated 5 antibiotic producing bacteria from ocean plastic, including strains of Bacillus, Phaeobacter and Vibrio. for 90 days.

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Envirotec Magazine

MAY 12, 2021

Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a seemingly new technique to trap and recover microplastics. The method uses bacterial biofilms, a sticky substance created by micro-organisms, to trap microplastic particles. In bioreactors, this makes the microplastics more convenient to collect, according to Liu.

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Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 25, 2022

Microplastics have become so widespread that they have been discovered in fresh Antarctic snow. Something as seemingly innocent as Halloween decorations or gum can be a source, says Sulacpac, a producer of bio-based alternatives for conventional plastics. However, typical plastic waste isn’t the only source of microplastics.

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Envirotec Magazine

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

A new study sheds light on the quantity and type of microplastics present in clouds. The researchers analyzed cloud water samples from high-altitude mountains in Japan to ascertain the amount of microplastics in them. Microplastics in the free troposphere are transported and contribute to global pollution,” said Okochi.

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Envirotec Magazine

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

The world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% successfully recycled, according to a new OECD report. Almost half of all plastic waste is generated in OECD countries, according to the Outlook.

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Grist

MAY 23, 2024

No human organ is safe from microplastic contamination, it seems — not even the testicles. Researchers at the University of Mexico recently tested 70 samples of testicular tissue — 47 from dogs and 23 from humans — and found microplastics in every single one. So how do the microplastics get into people’s bodies?

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Envirotec Magazine

MAY 12, 2021

Not only will this allow us to bring our experience in the removal of micro-pollutions and micro-plastic into the UK but also extending it further into the drinking water industry is another milestone in our collaboration.”

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Envirotec Magazine

JUNE 10, 2022

Methods for the analysis of microplastic particles in a sample (of water) are beset by challenges such as high error rates and a high time requirement. The chemical characterization of the microplastic particles is based on their absorption of infrared light. Near-surface analysis.

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Envirotec Magazine

MAY 2, 2024

The study also found that tyre wear particles significantly outweighed other forms of microplastics, such as plastic fibres and fragments, in the samples collected but that they were also removed in far greater quantities. Easy come, easy go? It was funded by UK National Highways.

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Envirotec Magazine

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

Independently verified research by Swedish water technology firm Bluewater has apparently verified the efficiency of its water purifier technology at removing up to 99.99% of health threatening microplastics and chemicals such as toxic PFAS from tap water.

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Microplastics Plastics Health Pollution 130

Envirotec Magazine

JULY 27, 2022

A study of 29 European lakes has found that some naturally-occurring lake bacteria grow faster and more efficiently on the remains of plastic bags than on natural matter like leaves and twigs. The bacteria break down the carbon compounds in plastic to use as food for their growth.

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Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 4, 2024

University of Edinburgh start-up firm EVA Biosystems has developed a plastic that is described as being able to sense when it’s in the ocean and break itself down without creating microplastics. EVA Biosystems’ innovation involves adding special bacteria to conventional plastics.

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The City Fix

JUNE 8, 2023

“Plastic kills, and the damages of plastic pollution have no borders. We cannot beat plastic pollution if we don’t tackle climate change, environmental loss and food crises at the same time.” That was the powerful message Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

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Envirotec Magazine

JANUARY 9, 2024

The research has developed a sustainability metric for the ecological design of plastic products, like cup-lids, recognizing and quantifying their propensity to break-down more quickly in the environment (image credit: Bryan James/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).

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Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Microplastics which have been used in leave-on cosmetic and personal care products are being overlooked by research and regulators, according to a new critical review conducted by scientists at the University of Birmingham. The research found that, of 2,381 products studied, only two were leave-on products.

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Hydrogen Fuel News

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

The Scale of the US Plastic Waste Problem The United States is projected to generate 220 million tons of plastic waste in 2024, a 7.11% increase from 2021. Over a third of this waste is expected to be mishandled, contributing significantly to global plastic pollution. With only 19.8% With only 19.8%

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Envirotec Magazine

OCTOBER 10, 2022

The government needs to make an immediate decision on banning plastic in wet wipes in order to help tackle this sewage-based pollution ending up in the River Thames, environmental charity Thames21 has urged. Most contain plastic in them and because of this they can cause blockages which back up sewage that spills into the River Thames.

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Grist

OCTOBER 17, 2022

When you think of plastic pollution, you might imagine ocean “ garbage patches ” swirling with tens of millions of plastic bottles and shopping bags. But unfolding alongside the “macroplastic” pollution crisis is another threat caused by much smaller particles: microplastics. So where do microplastics come in?

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Inhabitat - Innovation

AUGUST 20, 2020

But a new study of plastic in the Atlantic Ocean reveals the pollution problem is ten times worse than scientists suspected. We knew it was bad.

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Business Green

APRIL 7, 2022

Consumer goods giants continue to face growing scrutiny over their reliance on plastics in their packaging, with fresh research published yesterday having found microplastics in products manufactured by almost 90 per cent of the top-selling cosmetics brands. What we do know is that these products, used day-in day-out, contain plastic.

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The Verge: Energy

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his office had launched an investigation into the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries alleged role in causing a plastic pollution crisis on April 28th, 2022, in Playa Del Rey, California. They failed to act, and now they seek to blame others. It makes people buy more.

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Grist

JANUARY 9, 2024

At this point, it’s common knowledge that bottled water contains microplastics — fragments of the insidious material that can be as small as a bacterial cell. Then it was a simple matter of counting all the different particles of plastic. Plastic bottles in a supermarket. I don’t want a plasticized world,” she said. “We

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Plastics Microplastics Health Pollution 145

Envirotec Magazine

NOVEMBER 27, 2020

UK biotech company Toraphene says it is preparing to unveil the world’s first truly biodegradable, compostable and commercially viable alternative to plastic packaging. It’s because they need specific manmade conditions to biodegrade, and many degrade into microplastics, which contaminate our oceans and food chain for centuries”.

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Green Living Guy

JUNE 7, 2022

Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean. The study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to connect microplastics in the ocean with land-based pathogens. It can lead to consequences for human and wildlife health, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.

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Envirotec Magazine

APRIL 28, 2024

An aerial view of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as Plastic Island, which comprises mainly plastic, light metals and organic residues of garbage. A new report attempts to better understand the provenance and impact of plastics in the ocean. Plastic, the report (titled ‘How Much Plastic Is In The Ocean?’)

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GreenBiz

AUGUST 26, 2020

Where there's hope for speeding up business action on plastics. Its landmark report, "The New Plastics Economy," sounded the alarm in 2016 that if "business as usual" continues, by 2025 the ocean may hold more plastic than fish by weight. Only five years ago, few corporate leaders had plastic pollution on their official radar.

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Business Green

APRIL 11, 2021

With funding from the plastic bag charge Waitrose launched a £1m grant fund for innovative plastic-waste busting ideas - Hubbub's Trewin Restorick sets out the key achievements. There is increased interest in nature-based solutions for tackling pollution and two projects explored this route. Five key themes have emerged: 1.

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Grist

JUNE 5, 2024

Victoria and Justin Huang, two 17-year-olds from The Woodlands College Park High School in Texas, designed a system that filters microplastic particles out of water using ultrasound waves. For my project that year, I actually did plastic pollution, which is how this kind of all started. Their project received the Gordon E.

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DeSmogBlog

APRIL 24, 2023

Diane Wilson, a fourth-generation South Texas shrimper who took on a multi-billion dollar corporate polluter in court and won, has received a 2023 Goldman Prize for environmental activism. Wilson’s $50 million settlement with Formosa Plastics Corp. – But the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality failed to stop the pollution.

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Business Green

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

Fauna & Flora International argues tougher measures are urgently needed to curb 'entirely preventable' plastic pellet pollution. Plastic pellets, or 'nurdles', are lentil-sized pieces of plastic that are melted together to create almost all plastic items used in consumer products.

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